Block 53 crack problem question;fix?

[BHaden]

I don't have one of these (I'm waiting on my 06 MC dually; my first diesel)

but I saw a picture of the problem recently while perusing the forum. It looks a LOT like a problem I had years ago that I fixed. It was a 1971 Ford with a 351 Cleveland engine. I knowingly bought it with a bad engine for cheap. I found out after the fact that 351Cs were prone to cracked cylinder heads and both of the ones in the car had some. I bought another used engine hoping it would have good ones. Out of 4 heads 2 were junk, one was OK and one had a crack in the valve spring seat area in the radiused part of the rough casting right below where the valve spring seat is machined. It was about 1-1/2 inches long and wrapped around the casting bump below the seat and into the heads water jacket.

I took a chance and decided to patch it. After cleaning it with acetone real well, I used some epoxy stuff called Marine-Tex, similar to JB weld, but heavier and even stronger. I got it at a boat supply store. It fixed the crack

and I never had a problem with it. I even sold the car to a friend later (who knew about the crack) and he was still driving it a couple years later.



I realize there may be more to the "Block 53" problem than I know about, but has anyone ever attempted this type repair on it?

 

[GTani]

Post this question in the 24 valve section. Third generation have issues but this is not one of them. Thank God.

 

[nps]

Members have tried JB Weld and it doesn't work. The crack forms from twisting of the block particularly when towing, and the adhesion to the metal doesn't stand up nor will it hold the cooling system pressure.